Tysons | FFXnow - Part 358

Morning Notes

Published December 6, 2023 at 8:15AM

A vehicle passes 1676 International, an office building in Tysons (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Justice HS Student Dies From Drug Overdose — “Officials notified the community of the fatal overdose involving a Justice High School student on Tuesday afternoon…FCPS Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid provided resources for parents and families on substance abuse,” stating that “we all play a role in reducing the stigma associated with substance use disorders, while also focusing on substance misuse.” [WJLA]

Vienna Town Council Opposes Idea of Casino — “Faced with rumblings that some state legislators again might try to authorize a gambling casino in Fairfax County, Vienna Town Council members on Dec. 4 formally signaled their opposition to that prospect…Council member Nisha Patel…successfully moved to have the casino-opposition statement placed within the 19-item legislative agenda’s Top 5 priorities.” [Gazette Leader]

Around Town

Santa is visiting Tysons Galleria and The Boro this week

By Angela Woolsey

Published December 5, 2023 at 3:30PM

Santa will also appear at The Boro on Saturday, Dec. 9 for a holiday extravaganza (courtesy The Boro)

Santa Claus has already taken up temporary residence at Tysons Corner Center, but that won’t stop him from dropping by a couple of other spots around Tysons this week.

Coming up first, a particularly debonair St. Nick will host an evening of cocktails, cinema and charity on Friday (Dec. 8) at CMX Cinebistro in Tysons Galleria (2001 International Drive).

Around Town

NEW: Ometeo opening in Tysons tomorrow with ‘elevated’ but accessible Tex-Mex food

By Angela Woolsey

Published December 5, 2023 at 11:45AM | Updated December 5, 2023 at 4:40PM

A "stuffie tamal" appetizer from Ometeo (photo by An-Phuong Ly)

(Updated at 4:40 p.m.) After almost four years of dreaming, planning and building, the team behind Ometeo is ready to introduce its spin on Tex-Mex cuisine to Tysons.

The new restaurant will open to the public for the first time at 1640 Capital One Drive tomorrow (Wednesday), Long Shot Hospitality Partner Jeremy Carman confirmed to FFXnow.

Countywide

FCPS fully restores snow days, ending use of virtual learning

By Angela Woolsey

Published December 5, 2023 at 10:15AM

Kids with sleds cross the street to Cunningham Park Elementary School in Vienna on a snow day in January 2022 (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

A flurry of snow days will be on the table for Fairfax County Public Schools this winter, though it remains to be seen how much the weather will oblige.

FCPS has built 11 snow days into its 2023-2024 calendar, and it will fully close on all of them if needed, ending a recent practice of shifting to virtual learning after five snow days.

Countywide

Morning Notes

By FFXnow.com

Published December 5, 2023 at 8:15AM

Sunset over Fair City Mall in Fairfax City (photo by Susan Woolsey)

FCPD Steps Up DUI Enforcement for Holiday Season — “During this campaign, running from December 4 to December 29 the squad will increase their staffing and focus on ensuring our roadways remain safe this holiday season. These initiatives are aimed at promoting sober driving, pinpointing impaired drivers, and increasing officer presence on the roads.” [FCPD]

ICYMI: Pedestrian Hit by Metrobus in Annandale — A woman was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries last night (Monday) from a crash on Little River Turnpike and Hummer Road. First responders found her trapped under the front axle of a Metrobus, shutting down eastbound Little River, per scanner traffic. [FFXnow]

Countywide

Report: As Northern Virginia prospers, some neighborhood conditions worsen

By Meghan McIntyre / Virginia Mercury

Published December 4, 2023 at 3:45PM

A new report says disparities in health, economic status and other issues have persisted between Fairfax County neighborhoods (via Northern Virginia Health Foundation)

In between the sprawling lawns of Loudoun County and the riverside lofts of Alexandria lie clusters of struggling, predominantly non-white neighborhoods that are increasingly left out of the success and prosperity experienced by Northern Virginia as a whole, recent research notes.

In fact, conditions in some of those neighborhoods — called “islands of disadvantage” — have been in decline for years.

News

Italian soccer club picks Tysons site for first U.S. youth academy

By Angela Woolsey

Published December 4, 2023 at 2:15PM

AC Milan, the Italian soccer club, is opening a Virginia youth training academy in Tysons (courtesy AC Milan)

A top-tier Italian soccer club is making a play for Tysons.

AC Milan, which claims to be the “most popular Italian football brand” in the U.S., announced last month that it has chosen Fairfax County as the site of its first youth training academy in North America.

Neighborhood Expert: Resources available for homeowners in Fairfax County

By Sponsor

Published December 4, 2023 at 12:30PM

Question mark (via Towfiqu Barbhuiya on Unsplash)

Laura Schwartz is a licensed Realtor in VA and D.C. with McEnearney Associates in Vienna. You can follow Laura on Instagram at @LauraSchwartzRealtor or her Facebook page. Laura can be reached at 703-283-6120 or Laura@GuidingYourMove.com.

Did you know that the county has many resources available for residents to use — for free? I wanted to highlight some of them for you so you’re aware of these resources:

Countywide

Fairfax County moves to update guidelines requiring developers to assist displaced tenants

By Acacia James

Published December 4, 2023 at 11:45AM

The Wedgewood Apartments and other properties owned by the Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority would be subject to the new relocation guidelines if redeveloped (via Google Maps)

Fairfax County is looking to update its guidelines for how rental and mobile home developers can assist displaced tenants for the first time in a decade.

Director of Fairfax County Department of Housing and Community Development Tom Fleetwood presented the proposed guidelines to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors at a housing committee meeting last week (Nov. 28).

Around Town

Vienna diversifies holiday display with nods to Hanukkah, winter solstice

By Angela Woolsey

Published December 4, 2023 at 10:15AM | Updated December 4, 2023 at 3:17PM

A menorah and light-up dreidel have been added to Vienna's holiday displays in the Town Green (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

(Updated at 3:15 p.m.) The winners of Vienna’s first-ever holiday display lottery have been revealed.

A menorah and illuminated dreidel were installed late last month at the Town Green, joining a live Christmas tree — also a first for Vienna — that was lit during the annual Church Street Holiday Stroll last Monday, Nov. 27.